Live From American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas – Sunday, March 1

Tickets On Sale Now

The will be plenty of stars in the Lone Star state on March 1 as World Extreme Cagefighting® (WEC®) proudly confirms the remaining bouts for WEC: Brown vs. Garcia, live from the American Bank Center Arena in Corpus Christi, Texas on Sunday, March 1, 2009.

Tickets for World Extreme Cagefighting are on sale and are priced at $32.50, $47.50, $77.50 and $127.50. Tickets are available for purchase through the American Bank Center Box Office, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster at 361-881-8499.

World Extreme Cagefighting will be televised live nationally on VERSUS beginning at 9:00 pm ET/6:00 pm PT. All live WEC events are presented in Hi-Definition (HD) where available. For more information and how to find VERSUS in your local viewing area, visit http://www.versus.com/findversus

Leading up to WEC featherweight champion Mike Brown’s first title defense against No. 1 contender and Plainview, Texas native Leonard Garcia, are ten spectacular fights destined to give fight fans a great night of action.

Poised for excellence in the WEC’s lightweight division, Rich Crunkilton (fighting out of New Smyrna Beach, Fla.) has won eight of his nine WEC fights. After dropping a bout to former WEC lightweight champion Rob McCullough, the 29-year-old rebounded with an impressive win via unanimous decision against Sergio Gomez last March. Standing in Crunkilton’s way is Warsaw, Poland native Bart Palaszewski (fighting out of Wonder Lake, Ill.). At only 25 years old, this experienced mixed martial artist has already won 30 professional MMA matches, including a TKO victory against MMA veteran Alex Karalexis in his WEC debut last December.

Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion Jose Aldo (fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) has been lighting up the WEC featherweight division. With TKO wins over all three of his WEC opponents, the explosive 22-year-old fighter has a bright future as a mixed martial artist. But Aldo’s greatest test yet could possibly come via Chris Mickle (fighting out of Madrid, Iowa). A mixed martial artist with pro boxing experience, Mickle won’t be lost on the ground if Aldo can take him down; 22 of his 26 pro wins have come via submission.

Former WEC lightweight champion “Razor” Rob McCullough (fighting out of Huntington Beach, Calif.) is one of the most explosive fighters in the 155-pound weight class. The 31-year-old is a world class striker and should be a handful for Marcus Hicks (fighting out of Dallas, Texas). With a jiu-jitsu black belt and a Golden Gloves championship on his resume, the 33-year-old Hicks is dangerous anywhere in the cage. Looking to get back in the title picture after a hard-fought setback against current WEC lightweight champion Jamie Varner, Hicks promises that he has recaptured the form that saw him rattle off three consecutive submission victories to start his WEC career.

Coming off an impressive TKO victory against Rafael Dias is 29-year-old lightweight fighter Danny Castillo (fighting out of Sacramento, Calif.). Castillo will put his 6-1 record up against Phil Cardella (fighting out of Austin, Texas). A former active U.S. Marine, Cardella received his Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Relson Gracie and has earned six of his seven career wins by submission.

A highly decorated jiu-jitsu champion, Marcos Galvao (fighting out of Nova Uniao, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) was tested right away in his WEC debut against No. 1 contender Brian Bowles. But the Amazonas, Brazil native will now stare across the cage at WEC veteran Damacio Page (fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.). Page scored a unanimous decision victory against Scott Jorgensen in his WEC debut last February, and his aggressive style has earned him a legion of fans.

There are very few mixed martial artists that have the wrestling credentials of Johny Hendricks (fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.). The four-time NCAA All-American and two-time national champion at Oklahoma State impressed many with a TKO victory over Justin Haskins in his WEC debut. The undefeated 25-year-old from Ada, Oklahoma now turns his attention to Alex Serdyukov (fighting out of San Francisco, Calif.). The Siberia, Russia born welterweight has five wins in the WEC including two in his last two bouts.

A veteran of 24 professional fights, skilled striker Kenji Osawa (fighting out of Tokyo, Japan) will mix it up with Rafael Rebello (fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.). Winner of his last four fights, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt makes his WEC debut against Osawa.

A true mixed martial arts veteran, former UFC® fighter Alex Karalexis (fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) has knockout power in both hands, and his sights are set on a 2009 title shot. To get there, the 31-year-old Massachusetts native will face California product Greg McIntyre (fighting out of San Diego, Calif.), who has three of his five pro wins by submission.

Apparently in-line skating at the X-Games wasn’t exciting enough for Brooklyn, N.Y. native Mike Budnik (fighting out of Tulsa, Okla.). The 34-year-old won nine gold medals at the games, but traded in his skates for four-ounce gloves. The 8-1 submission expert will face John Franchi (fighting out of Cortland, N.Y.) on March 1st. The 26-year-old Franchi, a former college wrestler, holds a 4-0 pro record and will be making his WEC debut.

A four-year wrestler at Rutgers University, Justin Haskins (fighting out of Jupiter, Fla.) has won four of his six professional MMA bouts. Now the welterweight faces another standout wrestler in Mike Pierce (fighting out of Gresham, Ore.). The 28-year-old has won six of his eight pro bouts.

All bouts subject to change. For more information about current WEC fight news, visit wec.tv.